Dominique Briggs-11y-Ms.Hadzis
AQA GCSE Drama: Response to play’s and other types of drama
In this essay I am going to compare my play with two comparatives. The play I performed was a scripted piece called “Blue Remembered Hills” by Dennis Potter, written in . The other two texts are, “My Mother said I never should”, by Charlotte Keatley, written in , and “Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell, written in .
My performance was set in 1943, in the West Country, “in the long summer holiday”. Naturalistic theatre was used, however, although it was about the events of seven children, adults play them all. War, bullying, abuse, aggression and murder are explored within the play. It was aimed at adults, as the issues it broached were in addressed in great depth, and because it was shown through the naivety of children, children would not understand. The play has historical and political context, and the political affairs of the time dictate the dialogue. The period in which it was set is reflected by the constant references to the War and “the Japs”. The circumstances of the children, as well as historical background can be seen throughout. For example, when ‘Donald’ says: “I be tired out and all, working on those saw mills. I cut me thumb off an all”.